For once being called coloured was not offensive. As Ravi Ahuja was walking back home a man across the road shouted “coloured” at him. But instead of feeling offended he smiled at him and shouted back: “Yes I know.”

Later he said: “I’m not offended in the least and not at all surprised that he called me coloured. I mean I’m covered in red, yellow and green. He wouldn’t have even seen the colour of my skin. Holi is about colours and having fun. I would like to take him to the event next year. ”

If the people of Sheffield had thought they’d seen it all, they were in for a shock. On the 30^th of March, the area around Weston Park was littered with students covered head to toe in bright, fluorescent colours.  Not only were students covered in colours, but students of all colours were covered in a variety of colours.

For a second the people of Sheffield thought that it was some kind of a protest, but since they couldn’t see any placards or hear any shouting they weren’t sure. “Why are you all coloured like this?” one Sheffield lady asked a girl as she passed. “This is Holi festival,” she said. “The whole idea of it is that we are all coloured the same.”

The Event

On Wednesday the 30^th of March, the National Hindu Students Forum (NHSF) organised Holi one of the most famous festivals of India at the Ponderosa Park.  Students from the University of Sheffield and the Sheffield Hallam attended the event as well as locals from Sheffield and the surrounding area.

Paresh Parmar, the President of the NHSF Sheffield said: “All chapters of the NHSF have organised Holi around UK today and we are delighted to see the response here in Sheffield. We have been organising such events ever since the NHSF started.”

Around 50 students congregated at the Park dressed in white all ready to play and experience something new. Paints were being sold in packets of three. The event began slowly as the locals looked at the Indians playing but soon they all joined in. Pretty soon colours were flying and people were running around and shouting at the top of their voices. People were running around throwing colours at each other.

There was laughter and shrieks all around. People who had come to the park to have a quiet time were in for a shock. Some players practising Rugby just left the game and either joined in or just sat and watched.

Suneil Raju, 21, studying Medicine at the University of Sheffield has never been to India and was relishing the experience. “It is so awesome. It is something new for me as I have only seen Holi on TV. I only came because I got a text from my friend. But I’m glad I came. I totally want to come back again if they hold it next year”, he said.

An hour or so later it was difficult to differentiate between people as they all looked the same. This is the very essence of Holi; the idea that we are all the same and not divided by our religion or the colour of our skin.

Holi

In India Holi is celebrated with a lot of fanfare. Throwing gulal (coloured water or perfumed coloured powder) on one another is the most significant part of the celebration. This playful activity of throwing coloured paint is designed to remove the barriers that people sometimes build around themselves. Holi renews the spirit of unity and brotherhood among families and in the community.

Over the years Holi has grown from being a festival celebrated only in India to one that is celebrated world-wide. Holi outside India is just about colours which is only a part of the whole festival. Apart from colours water too is extensively used. Water balloons all filled with coloured water is thrown at each other.

Holi has also made its way into today’s music and television.  In the music video for their song “The Catalyst”, American rock band Linkin Park incorporated scenes of band members throwing powdered colour at one another. The Holi festival was also featured as a Road Block challenge in the popular CBS reality television show, The Amazing Race 13, episode 7.

The Experience

In Sheffield Holi was a new experience for some and for others it was a way of feeling closer to home. For Harriet Shephard, 21, Holi was something she had never heard of before.  She, like many others, came with her friend not knowing what to expect. But once she saw the others playing, she couldn’t stop herself. “Holi festival is like nothing I’ve seen before and it’s absolutely amazing. Everyone seems to be having so much fun and totally losing their inhibitions, I never thought I’d end up joining in but I couldn’t resist! I’ll definitely try and get more of my friends on board to celebrate it next year!”

Rahul Sharma, 22, studying MSc in International Business and Management at Sheffield Hallam, found the event made him feel closer to home. He said: “Holi is one of the best festivals in India and it is good to see it being played here in Sheffield. They are playing it the same way we play it back in India. It reminds me of all the Holis that I played when I was back in Punjab.”

Everyone who attended this year’s Holi seemed to have enjoyed every minute of it. Which is un-surprising as after all, who doesn’t love an excuse to act like a child and get covered in paint every once in a while?